McCluskey Brothers - Aware Of All

The McCluskey Brothers AKA The Bluebells of Young At Heart fame deliver a mighty fine Celtic Folk album recorded in April 1986 at Berkley Street Studios, Glasgow. . Very hard to find these days sadly it's a most underrated album, each song better than the last. Anyone who hasn't heard this album is depriving their ears of a good time. From the bold use of instrument and voice comes twelve songs of distinction. The haunting title track stirs the blood and makes you proud of these lads for taking the bit between the teeth and producing such a fine collection on one album. Go on, give yourself a treat and download it from the link below today.

Band:

Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Vocals – David McCluskey
Bodhrán – Davie Duncan
Hurdy Gurdy – Jan Whightman
Mandolin – Raymond Davidson
Pipe, Fiddle – Chris Miller
Vocals, Harmonica, Whistle – Ken McCluskey

01 On Yer Bike

02 Tell Me Truly

03 Bold Young Men

04 Street Corner Blues

05 Union Burial Ground

06 Aware Of All

07 John McLean March

08 If I Had A Dream

09 Only Our Rivers Run Free

10 Set The People Free

11 Take Loving Easy

12 Willie Lee

link to the free album

McCuskey Brothers - Aware Of All

Cerys Matthews - Tir

Cerys Matthews is a Welsh singer, songwriter, author, and broadcaster. She was a founding member of Welsh Indie band Catatonia and a leading figure in the "Cool Cymru" movement of the late 1990s. In 2010, Matthews released Tir (in Welsh: 'territory' or 'land'), a collection of traditional Welsh songs, They included "Calon Lân", Cwm Rhondda, Migldi-Magldi (sung as a duet with Bryn Terfel), Myfanwy and Sosban Fach.[24] This is the third release on her own label, Rainbow City. Cerys has a lovely voice and the songs are mostly new to me which is always great.

Sosban Fach
Myfanwy
Bugeilio’r Gwenith Gwyn
Cân Merthyr
Cwm Rhondda
Ar Hyd Y Nos
Migldi Magldi
Calon Lân
Llwyn Onn
Ei Di’r Deryn Du?
Dafydd Y Garreg Wen
Mil Harddach Wyt Na’R Rhosyn Gwyn
Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Yr Insiwrans Agent
Bachen Bach O Dincar
Ar Lan Y Môr
Ei Di’r Deryn Du? (reprise)

link to the free album

Cerys Matthews - Tir

John Doyle - Wayward Son

John Doyle’s gifts as a guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, and producer have played an essential role in the ongoing renaissance of Irish traditional music. Doyle first rose to international prominence with Solas, the all-star Irish/American band whose emergence heralded the arrival of a new generation of bold, inventive traditional musicians. Guests on Wayward Son include Alison Brown, Seamus Egan, John McCusker, Michael McGoldrick, Kate Rusby, Danny Thompson and Linda Thompson.

  1. The Gallant Poacher
  2. Jack Dolan
  3. The Glad Eye/The Wayward Son (Jigs To Reel)
  4. Captain Glenn
  5. Bitter The Parting
  6. Old Bush/Expect The Unexpected (Reels)
  7. The Apprentice Boy
  8. Tie The Bonnet/Monahan Twig/A Fair Wind/The Convenience Reel (Reels)
  9. The Month Of January
  10. Little Sadie
  11. Eddie Kelly's/Reavy's Tribute To Coleman (Reels)
  12. The Cocks Are Growing

link to the free album

John Doyle - Wayward Son

Flying Column - Folk Music Time In Ireland

The Flying Column was the name of a Belfast folk group formed in 1967 who took their name from the Active Service Units of the Irish Republican Army that fought throughout Ireland during the War of Independence in the 1920's. Eamonn Largey was the lead vocalist of the group and the founder, along with Paddy McGoldrick on tin whistle and vocals, and they were joined by Barney Evans on guitar and Sean Kelly on 5 string banjo. Kathleen McCready, who later married Eamonn and took his name, regularly appeared as a guest with the group at various gigs and on their albums. The group’s material consisted of Irish ballads and rebel songs and they appeared at various concerts, republican clubs and fund-raising events throughout the six counties. They also performed as the support act to many significant figures in entertainment such as the Dubliners, Joan Baez, Tommy Makem, The Bachelors and the Spinners. Kathleen Largey had one of the most distinctive voices and I would recognise her singing anywhere. This album was much loved around the whole of Ireland but played a special part in our lives in the north with it's songs of resistance.

1 Henry Joy

2 Come To The Bower

3 The Banks Of Ohio

4 The Boston Burglar

5 The Dying Rebel

6 Tom Williams

7 Belfast City

8 James Connolly

9 Whiskey In The Jar

10 When I Was Single

11 The Banner Strand

link to the free album

Flying Column - Folk Music Time In Ireland

Various Artists - Folk Friends 2

This is the second part of the legendary "Folk Friends" recordings. This album documents a historical meeting of some of the best and most influential folk artists from England, Ireland Scotland, Germany and the USA. All are playing solo and in various combinations together. The album is not a usual sampler, but a unique session recording with Derroll Adams, Davey Arthur, Alex Campbell, Guy & Candie Carawan, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, John Faulkner, Finbar Furey, Dick Gaughan, Andy Irvine, Wizz Jones, Dolores Keane, Werner Lämmerhirt, Danny Thompson and Hannes Wader.The "Folk Friends" session was recorded between 16. - 28. October 1980 at Windmill "Fortuna"/Struckum and Tonstudio St. Blasien/Northeim by Günter Pauler. [source zerosounds]

1 Two Hundred Miles Away

2 The World Turned Upside Down

3 Seamen Three

4 Columbus Georgia

5 Born To Live With The Blues

6 The Father's Song

7 Yesterday's People

8 Take The Children And Run

9 Thousands Are Sailing To Amerikay

10 Es ist ein Schnee gefallen

11 Don't Think Twice It's All Right

12 Voices From The Mountains

13 Bloody Sunday

14 Siege Of A Nation

15 Lassie Lie Near Me

16 Me And Bobby McGee

17 The John MacLean March

18 Jamie Foyers

19 Green Grows The Laurel

20 The Waterford Waltz

21 Planet Without Plan

link to the free album

Various Artists - Folk Friends 2

Christy Moore - Burning Times

Burning Times is a 2005 album of cover versions by legendary Irish Folk singer Christy Moore. The album is dedicated to Rachel Corrie, an American activist killed by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza in 2003. Burning Times reunites Christy with Moving Hearts co-founder Declan Sinnott, and is his first new solo material since the rather lacklustre This Is The Day (2001). I'm happy to say it's a significant return to form, strongly reminiscent of his best solo work in the '80s.The voice sounds reinvigorated, the choice of material is a good deal more inspired, and Sinnott's lovely multi-instrumental accompaniments and production are tastefully assured, helping to make this very easy on the ear.

Musicians;
Christy Moore - vocals, guitar, bodhrán
Declan Sinnott - guitar, background vocals
Mandy Murphy, Mary Greene - background vocals

1. 16 Fishermen Raving (Wally Page, Tony Boylan)
2. Motherland (Natalie Merchant)
3. Butterfly (So Much Wine) (Brett Sparks, Rennie Sparks)
4. Magic Nights in the Lobby Bar (John Spillane, Ger Wolfe, Ricky Lynch)
5. America, I Love You (Morrissey)
6. Mercy (Wally Page)
7. Beeswing (Richard Thompson)
8. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll (Bob Dylan)
9. The Magdalene Laundries (Joni Mitchell)
10. Burning Times (Charlie Murphy)
11. Peace in the Valley Once Again (Brett Sparks, Rennie Sparks)
12. Changes (Phil Ochs)

link to the free album

Christy Moore - Burning Times

Altan - Horse With A Heart

When Altan released Horse With A Heart in May 1989 on the Green Linnet Records label, it served as a welcome reminder that Irish music that hewed close to tradition still had a place in the world. Although this was Altan’s second CD, it was the first where they gelled as a band. The wife-and-husband team of Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh and Frankie Kennedy are the emotional center of the group. When they play the fiddle and flute together you feel as if you are overhearing an intimate conversation [source Michael Simmons]

Band;
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, vocals, fiddle
Frankie Kennedy, flute
Paul O’Shaughnessy, fiddle
Ciarán Curran, bouzouki
Mark Kelly, guitar
With: Marie Askin, Phil Cunningham, Dónal Lunny, Colm Murphy, Steve White

The Curlew/McDermott's/Three Scones of Boxty/Unnamed Reel {= McConnell's}

The Lass of Glenshee

Con Cassidy's & Neil Gow's Highlands/Moll and Tiarna/Mcsweeney's Reels

The Road to Durham

An t-Oileán Úr

An Grianán/Horse With a Heart

A Bhean Udaí Thall

Welcome Home Gráinne/Con McGinley's

Tuirse Mo Chroí

Come Ye by Atholl/Kitty O'Connor

An Feochán

Paddy's Trip to Scotland/Dinky's/The Shetland Fiddler

All titles are traditional, except the following:

"An Grianán" and "Horse with a Heart" – composed by Frankie Kennedy
"The Curlew" – composed by Josephine Keegan
"McDermott's" – composed by Josie McDermott
"An Feochán" – composed by Tommy Peoples
"The Road to Durham" – composed by Armin Barnett and David Molk

link to the free album

Altan - Horse With A Heart